This unit has been introduced as part of redeveloping the Bachelor of Computer Science Advanced (Honours) degree in 2018 and replaces FIT1008.

21/09/2017 - Admin: updated learning outcome 6 to change the word "understand" to "describe" for compliance before 2018 Handbook sign-off.

28/26/2018: Admin - updating assessment to remove the 30 minutes reading and noting time and request a 3 hour exam on behalf of the CE.

29/6/2020: Under "Workload Requirements". The lecture is flipped and prepared by students at home. We have one 1-hour workshop with new activities instead. To not lose too much contact hours, we increase the tutorials to two hours. To not increase the workload, we will not ask students to prepare tutorials any longer.

30/09/2020 Admin: Update to include new assessment and teaching approach fields as per Handbook requirements.

18/02/2021: increased workshop hours from 1 to 2 following student feedback. Removed Mid-Semester Test to decrease student and staff workload.

18/05/2021 - Admin: Adding reasons for change. Currently this unit has 7 teaching hours due to the amount of content covered and the number of assignments required in this unit. The workload is too high for both the students and the teaching team. Moving forward, the idea is to combine the tutorial and laboratory in long term and reduce the number of weekly tests required in this unit. For Semester 2, 2021 it is proposed to run 6 hours of classes (2hr workshop, 2 hr tutorial and 2 hr laboratory) and then decrease the number of teaching hours further in Semester 2, 2022.

This is a core unit in the Bachelor of Computer Science Advanced (Honours) degree and replaces FIT1008.

It builds on the introduction to algorithms and programming core unit FIT1053. Its most important role is to introduce major themes from the discipline of computer science, namely, Algorithms and Data Structures. This selection of topics allows students to understand how problem solving in computer science involves different levels of abstraction, from high-level algorithms and programming down to the machine level. It gives the students practice in various aspects of problem solving, including developing, applying and implementing simple algorithms and data structures, and encourages them to reason about their properties. Finally, it uses the Python programming language to implement the aforementioned algorithms.

At the completion of this unit, students should be able to:

1. translate simple problem statements into algorithms, implement them in a high level programming language and test them.
2. summarise and compare the properties of basic abstract data types such as stacks, queues, lists, trees, priority queues, heaps and hash tables.
3. evaluate different algorithms and implementations of basic abstract data types.
4. analyse algorithms by determining their best case and worst case big O time complexity.
5. design efficient solutions combining basic abstract data types and applying the concepts of complexity while understanding its implications in practical situations.
6. describe the classic RISC pipeline and how machine architecture can affect processor performance.
7. deconstruct simple high-level code into assembly code such as MIPS R2000.

020109

This unit introduces students to core problem-solving, analytical skills, and methodologies useful for developing flexible, robust, and maintainable software. It covers a range of conceptual levels, from high-level algorithms and data-structures, down to the machine models and simple assembly language programming. Topics include data types; data structures; algorithms; algorithmic complexity; recursion and translation to assembly language.

Recommended resources

READING LIST:

1. MIPS Assembly Language Programming Author: Britton

1. Problem-Solving with algorithms and data structures using Python Author: Miller & Ranum ?also freely available online under CC license: https://interactivepython.org/runestone/static/pythonds/index.html?

Technological requirements

Students must regularly check Moodle for announcements.

The following software will be used:

Python 3: This will be our programming language. Please make sure you get at least version 3.3 - https://www.python.org/downloads/

PyCharm : A good Python IDE. http://www.jetbrains.com/pycharm/

MARS (MIPS Assembler and Runtime Simulator): An IDE for MIPS Assembly Language Programming. http://courses.missouristate.edu/kenvollmar/mars/

All the above are included as part of the Standard Operating Environment used in Faculty Computer Labs as well as in the MoVE platform

(For Clayton Campus ONLY) Please note: This is a bring your own device unit. You will be expected to bring a web-connected device (i.e., laptop or tablet) to class to access specialist software. The applications for your class can be accessed at the website move.monash.edu . For more information, visit monash.edu/mov

On-campus

Lecture, tutorials and lab-based problem classes

This teaching and learning approach helps students first encounter the information at lectures, discuss and explore them at length during tutorials, tests them via quizzes, and enables them to practice in a hands-on environment during labs.

Peer assisted learning

We use peer assisted learning during the lectures by asking questions about the material and holding short discussions among peers. A web-browser will be used to gather some of the students answers in a quick and anonymous way.

We also use peer assisted learning during code review pracs, which contain a face-to-face group activity where students in each group compare and discuss solutions to one of the problems solved during the prac.

Examination (3 hours): 60%; In-semester assessment: 40%

Justification: a longer exam (3 hours) is good given the amount of material in FIT2085 as it has 3 hours of lectures a week and more time is needed in the exam to assess the students knowledge.

1. Interview Pracs - 26% - ULO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
2. Solo/Colab Pracs - 14% - ULO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
3. Examination - 60% - ULO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Minimum total expected workload equals 12 hours per week comprising:

(a.) Contact hours for on-campus students:

(b.) Additional requirements (all students):

Laboratories must follow tutorials. The workshop(s) in Sunway follow those in Clayton (day after or a few hours after).

FIT

((One of FIT1040, ECE2071, FIT1002) and FIT1029) or FIT1045 or FIT1053